Formulary
Levocarnitine: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Levocarnitine clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Levocarnitine: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Levocarnitine clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Primary carnitine deficiency due to inborn errors of metabolism**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): Up to 200 mg/kg daily in 2-4 divided doses; maximum 3 g per day.
- **Adult** (By Slow Intravenous Injection): Up to 100 mg/kg daily in 2-4 divided doses, to be administered over 2-3 minutes.
**Primary carnitine deficiency due to inborn errors of metabolism for levocarnitine**
- **Neonate** (By mouth): Up to 200 mg/kg daily in 2-4 divided doses.
- **Child** (By mouth): Up to 200 mg/kg daily in 2-4 divided doses; maximum 3 g per day.
- **Neonate** (Initially by intravenous infusion): Initially 100 mg/kg, to be administered over 30 minutes, followed by (by continuous intravenous infusion) 4 mg/kg/hour.
- **Child** (Initially by intravenous infusion): Initially 100 mg/kg, to be administered over 30 minutes, followed by (by continuous intravenous infusion) 4 mg/kg/hour.
- **Neonate** (By slow intravenous injection): Up to 100 mg/kg daily in 2-4 divided doses, to be administered over 2-3 minutes.
- **Child** (By slow intravenous injection): Up to 100 mg/kg daily in 2-4 divided doses, to be administered over 2-3 minutes.
**Secondary carnitine deficiency in haemodialysis patients for levocarnitine**
- **Child** (Initially by slow intravenous injection): 20 mg/kg, to be administered over 2-3 minutes, after each dialysis session, dosage adjusted according to plasma-carnitine concentration, then (by mouth) maintenance 1 g daily, administered if benefit is gained from first intravenous course.
**Organic acidaemias for levocarnitine**
- **Neonate** (By mouth): Up to 200 mg/kg daily in 2-4 divided doses.
- **Child** (By mouth): Up to 200 mg/kg daily in 2-4 divided doses; maximum 3 g per day.
- **Neonate** (Initially by intravenous infusion): Initially 100 mg/kg, to be administered over 30 minutes, followed by (by continuous intravenous infusion) 4 mg/kg/hour.
- **Child** (Initially by intravenous infusion): Initially 100 mg/kg, to be administered over 30 minutes, followed by (by continuous intravenous infusion) 4 mg/kg/hour.
- **Neonate** (By slow intravenous injection): Up to 100 mg/kg daily in 2-4 divided doses, to be administered over 2-3 minutes.
- **Child** (By slow intravenous injection): Up to 100 mg/kg daily in 2-4 divided doses, to be administered over 2-3 minutes.
Cautions
Diabetes mellitus
Side effects
Rare or very rare Abdominal cramps; diarrhoea; nausea; skin odour abnormal; vomiting Side-effects, further information Side-effects may be dose-related-monitor tolerance during first week and after any dose increase.
Pregnancy
Appropriate to use; no evidence of teratogenicity in animal studies.
Renal impairment
Accumulation of metabolites may occur with chronic oral administration of high doses in severe impairment.
Medicinal forms
Capsule,Capsule,Solution
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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